Photo Credit: NHL.com
Everyone knows by now that Flyers top prospect Cutter Gauthier will head back to Boston College for his Sophomore season. This is a smart move for his development, seeings that the Flyers are two to three years away from contending again. There really is no reason to rush his development.
“On Cutter – we told them about our vision and what we see moving forward, and he had a discussion with his advisor and family, and they decided that it was better for him to go back for another year, which I really don’t have a problem with,” Flyers Interim GM Danny Briere said at his season ending presser.
Briere continued, “I think it’s going to give him the chance to hopefully be even more dominant than he was this year. Another year at World Juniors – I’m really excited about. We’re going to get a bigger, better, faster, more mature, Cutter Gauthier the following year. So, I’m really excited about his development this year.”
To clear the air, Cutter, his advisors, and his family solely made this decision as the Flyers are two-three years away from contending, not because he does not agree with the Flyers path moving forward. There was a site on facebook earlier in the week stating falsehoods about this topic which just aren’t true.
“If it was easy everyone would do it,” that’s the motto that Flyers top prospect Cutter Gauthier lives by. A goal scorer is blossoming at Boston College, and his name is Cutter Gauthier. Gauthier is a fan favorite already and he has yet to play in one game for the Flyers, “If it was easy everyone would do it. I’ve missed out on a lot of my high school kid things due to the passion of the game, but it’s paid off,” says Gauthier.
“If making the NHL was so easy every hockey player would do it, but that’s not reality. You have to work hard taking no days off because if you don’t there’s another kid that will do it.” Cutter Gauthier said to Jamey Baskow a few months ago
Gauthier, 18, stands at 6’2 and weighs 189 pounds. Not only is this a solid build for not only a pro hockey player, but this gives the Flyers much needed size down the middle in the future. At first glance, he’s a versatile player that can play both Wing and Center. He played mainly Center for the Boston College Eagles last season, but he reveals that he will play any position that best suits what the coaches needs.
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A young Gauthier was born in Sweden. His father, Sean Gauthier was a goalie in the Swedish Elite League and for the Reading Royals, so it’s kind of shocking he has become a Power Forward. The first name Cutter came from a Swedish cookbook, yup a cook book as Cutter exclaimed after he was drafted by the orange and black. For his efforts, he is killed it for the Boston College Men’s Hockey Team last season, as he netted goals and 21 assists in 32 games played. He was on fire, and Gauthier burned out the bulb to the goal lamp, Gauthier scored that much.
The Flyers are now targeting shoot-first players, and it’s become evident with the past two drafts. For instance, Tyson Foerster’s best ability is his shot, while Samu Tuomaala, although struggling in the Liiga League, is a first shot mentality player. The Flyers are really trying to find a sniper(s) to wreak havoc on their opponents in the future.Â
A young Gauthier’s confidence is obviously extremely high right now with how successful he was during his freshman season at the NCAA level. He mentioned time and time again after getting drafted the amount of work he will put in to eventually don a Flyers sweater, and he got some tips from Joel Farabee at Flyers Developmental Camp this past Summer. Hopefully, he will have continued success next season at Boston College.
Jay O’Brien
Danny Briere confirmed at his season ending presser that Center Jay O’Brien will not be signed. The NHL still hasn’t stated if it will be a compensatory 2023 second round pick or a 2024 second round pick.
“On Jay, no, we’re not sure. We’re trying to figure that out. It’s been months it feels like that we’ve been trying to figure out exactly when the compensation, but we’ve told this camp that no, we weren’t going to re-sign him. So, the next part is just waiting to see when that pick comes.” – Flyers’ Interim GM Danny Briere said at his season ending presser
He is 19 and not 18. This puts him 20 when he gets out of school which I am pretty sure makes him eligible for free agency after a 90 day wait period as flyers property immediately after school. If I am him, I wait the 90 days and sign elsewhere where conditions are better.